Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - current

(currents) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A current is a steady and continuous flowing movement of some of the water in a river, lake, or sea. Under normal conditions, the ocean currents of the tropical Pacific travel from east to west... The couple were swept away by the strong current. N-COUNT 2. A current is a steady flowing movement of air. I felt a current of cool air blowing in my face. N-COUNT: usu with supp 3. An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit. A powerful electric current is passed through a piece of graphite. N-COUNT 4. A particular current is a particular feeling, idea, or quality that exists within a group of people. Each party represents a distinct current of thought... N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n 5. Current means happening, being used, or being done at the present time. The current situation is very different to that in 1990... He plans to repeal a number of current policies... ADJ: usu ADJ n • currently Twelve potential vaccines are currently being tested on human volunteers... ADV: ADV before v 6. Ideas and customs that are current are generally accepted and used by most people. Current thinking suggests that toxins only have a small part to play in the build up of cellulite... ADJ 7. see also alternating current, direct current